Portable blower for spinning frames and other machines



Dec. 19, 1933. M. G, SMITH 1,940,633

PORTABLE BLOWER FOR SPINNING FRAMES AND OTHER MACHINES s She ets-Sheet 1a o Z} Z W m 0 v 5 w 2 m A .M w l i 7 d J k 1 F i: II

' M. G. SMITH Dec. 19, 1933.

PORTABLE BLOWER FOR SPINNING FRAMES AND OTHER MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 2, 1930 M5. M, g firm/6W.

M. G. SMITH Dec, 19, 1933.

Filed Aug. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Dec. 19, 1933 STATESPORTABLE BLOWER FOR SPINNING. FRAMES AND OTHER.MACHINES Milton G. Smith,Greenville, S. 0., assignor to The Terrell Machine Company, N. 0., acorporation of North Carolina Application August 2, 1930.

Charlotte,

Serial No. 472,526

11 Claims. (o1.15-20)' The invention has relation to lint clearingdevices for use in removing lint and fly from spinning frames and othertextile machinery.

In spinning frames, roving frames, twisters, and various other textilemachines operating upon traveling yarns, the removal of lint and flywhich rapidly accumulates on parts of the machine adjacent the runningyarns is necessary periodically in order to prevent accumulated massesof fibers becoming caught by the traveling yarns and carried forwardthereby to become fixed in the yarns during the process being performedon the latter, and resulting in the formation of slubs and bunches inthe finished yarns which seriously impair their-value.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved portable device adapted to blow lint and fly from thering-rails and creels and parts adjacent to these localities uponspinning frames, roving frames, and similar machines.

Special objects of the invention include the provision of means forcleaning two spinning frames at once by the improved device, and foradapting the device to spinning frames of different proportions. 1

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription.

The invention consists in the novel and imtions of parts shown anddescribed in the accompanying drawings and specification andparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

An illustrative embodiment of a preferred form of the invention is shownin the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Figs. 4 and 5 show in front and side elevation, respectively, the meansfor extending the delivery flues acting in connection with theringrails.

Figs. 6 and 7 show in side and front elevation, respectively, the meansfor extending the creelclearing fiues.

Having reference to the drawings:-

The device of the invention consists in the main of a wheeled carriageadapted to pass .down the aisle between two spinning frames located asis usual in spaced opposed relation, bearing a fan, blower, or othermeans for producing a blast of air, and fiues or conduits for deliveringproved features of construction and combinak by e b ow of one or both ofsuch opposed spinning frames, which it is desired to clean and clear oflint or fly. This carriage is or may be of any suitable or desired form,that herein shown comprising a box-like body 1 provided at midlengthwith a pair of large wheels 2 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 3 fixed inconnection with the body so that the wheels may be rotated in oppositedirections to facilitate sharp turning of the device when wheeled about.Additional small wheels or casters 4 are provided at the ends of thebody 1, preferably arranged so that they will be clear of the floor whenthe device is balanced upon the large wheels 2. The body is providedwith a hand-rail whereby it may be propelled manually past the spinningframe or frames, or other machines which it is desired to clear andclean by means of the blast issuing from the device.

Suitable means for producing a blast of air is mounted upon or withinthe body 1, and in the present embodiment comprises an electric motor '6driving a fan '7 of-familiar propeller type, mounted on a bracket 8within the fan chamber 9 depending from the top surface of the body 1and enclosed and protected by screening 10 applied to the front and bothsides of the body 1, the screen serving to admit a free flow of air totake the place of that expelled Other types of blowers such as thecentrifugal type may of course be employed to produce the blast of-air.

An air passage of generous dimensions is provided in the top of the body1 above the fan Land'a chamber 11 of cylindrical shape is applied to arim 12 on the body 1 about the said air passage, resting on the top ofthe body 1 and fitting with sufficient freedom about such flange 12 topermit the chamber 11 to be rotated about its vertical axis as will bedescribed hereinafter.

The; chamber 11, of hollow cylindrical form, has affixed in its sides indiametrically opposed relationthe discharge iiues 13 which receive attheir open lower ends 14 a portion of the blast ofair driven upwardwithin the chamber 11 by the fan '7, and which deliver such portion ofthe blast horizontally from the chamber 11 in opposite directions at theproper height to blow lint and fly from the ringrails, and other partsof a spinning frame in the locality of the ringrails, as the device iswheeled down the aisle between oppositely-located spinning frames. Inorder to deliver a blast havingconsiderable vertical extent, and ofsubstantial uniformity throughout such vertical extent, the flues 13 areprovided with a plurality of vanes 15 properly shaped and located todistribute the blast with equal intensity through the verticallyelongated discharge ends 16 of the fiues. This provision makes itpossible to clean the traverse rail and the parts above and below thesame regardless of their relative elevation at the moment when thecleaning device passes along the front of the spinning frame.

The top of the chamber 11 is provided with a head 17 having arectangular aperture provided with a collar 18, within which latter fitsslidably in the rectangular lower portion 19 in connection with thefiues 20 which direct portions of the blast horizontally in oppositedirections to blow the lint and fly from the creels, creelsupports, andother portions of the spinning frames in the locality of the creelswhich commonly surmount the spinning frames. As in the case of the fiues13 for clearing the vicinity of the ring-rails and other associatedparts, the blast delivered laterally from each fiue is contrived to haveconsiderable vertical extent, and theflues are provided with vanes 21similar in construction and arrangement to the aforesaid vanes 15 whichare designed and installed to distribute the intensity of the blastuniformly throughout the vertical extent of the discharge ends 22 of theflues 20.

Preferably, the vanes 15, 21, will be made of sheet metal extendingacross the full width of the rectangular flues 13, 20, and preferably,also, the position of their extremities 23 nearest the fan will beadjusted into positions giving the most uniform dispersion of the forceof the blast over the entire discharge end of their respective fiues,and then fixedly secured in such adjusted position; though it is withinthe scope of the present invention to provide means for positioningthese extremities with capacity for further adjustment in case needtherefor should arise.

Adjustment of the relative height of the dis,- charge ends 22 of thecreel-clearing fiues 20 with respect to the ring-rail clearing'flues 16is .provided for by arranging the portion 19 to telescope freely withinthe chamber 11 as stated, and means for retaining the parts in adjustedposition are provided in the form of rods 24,

having their upper ends fixed in brackets 25 bolted to opposite sides ofthe member 19, and sliding through guides 26 in connection with thecollar 18 on the top of chamber 11. When the proper elevation of thecreel-clearing flue unit has been determined, the adjustment ismain-.tained by tightening clamping screws 27 to secure the rods 24 fixedlywithin their guides 26.

To provide for delivering the clearing blast into proper proximity tothe traverse-rails and the creels to be effective in clearing theseportions of the machine, while providing for the variations withincertain limits in the spacing of spinning frames adopted by variousmills, extensions 28 and 29 are provided to be attached respectively tothe delivery ends 16 of the traverse-rail clearing fiues and thedelivery ends 22 of the creel-clearing flues. The device of theinvention is designed to be narrow enough to pass through the narrowestaisles between oppositely-located spinning frames, as installed in amill, and it is intended and preferred that the device shall be fittedto. the spacing adopted in any one mill by the use of extensions 28 and29 of an appropriate length such that when applied to the delivery ends16 and 22, they will discharge their proper portion of the blast inclose proximity to the parts intended to be cleared thereby and on eachof a pair of oppositely-looated spinning frames as the device is wheeleddown the middle of the aisle between two rows of spinning frames. Theextensions 28 are applied to the delivery ends 16 of the traverse-railclearing flues by means of ears 34 passing over studs 35 protruding fromthe sides of the chamber 11 and are retained thereon by nuts supplied tosaid studs. They are equipped with vanes 36 constituting continuationsof the vanes 15 within the flues 13. The extensions 29 for thecreel-clearing flues 20 are without vanes, as they are designed totelescope over the exterior of the flues 20 to enable their lateralextent to be adjusted to a relation giving most effective results.

To provide for reduction of the overall width of the device whennecessary to pass the same through narrow openings, as for instancebetween the belts connecting an oppositely-located pair of spinningframes with the overhead drive shaft, the chamber 11 is mounted on thebody 1 with capacity for limited rotation about a vertical axis, asreferred to hereinbefore. This permits the operator to swing the wholeof the structure above the body 1 through an arc of 90, in order thatthe delivery ends of the flues with their extensions may be brought intoline with the direction of movement of the carriage as permitted by thewheels thereunder. By this means the flues will be brought within thewidth of the carriage, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and beingthemselves relatively narrow can be passed easily through any passagecapable of permitting transit of the body 1. For rotating the chamberand the flues borne thereon in this manner, a handle 30 is provided onthe side of the chamber 11, which engages stops 31 fixed on the top ofthe body 1 to limit its move ment in either direction.

The motor 6'for driving the fan 7 or other blower may be provided withelectric current from any suitable source, as by means of a fiexa iblecable. In the event that it is preferred to make the device a wholeself-contained unit, and increase its mobility by dispensing with acable attached to a power line, it is contemplated to drive the motor 6by means of storagebatteries carried within a compartment 32 of the body1, such compartment being shown as provided with a hinged cover 33 forthe purpose of facilitating access thereto.

In certain instances it may be desirable or necessary to regulate therelative force of the blast directed in the vicinity of the traverserail, with respect to the force of the-blast delivered on to the creels.Such occasion may arise where fine ends are being spun, and the use of aheavy blast upon the traverse rail tends to deflect and break the yarns.To provide for such adjustment of the force of the blast, dampers 37 areprovided in the delivery ends 16 of the fiues 13 controlled by an arm 38fixed upon the common maintain the dampers in adjusted position. A 3

similar arrangement of dampers 42 is or may be provided within the fiues20 which deliver a clearing blast to the creel-portions of the spinningframe, so that if desired delivery of air laterally from the device inone direction may be 1 suspended to concentrate the blast on a singlespinning frame.

While I have illustrated and described only one form in which theinvention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may bemade therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing fromthe scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I donot'wish to be limited to the particular forms shown, or to the detailsof construction thereof, but what I do claim is:-

1. A portable blower for cleaning spinning frames and other machines,having in combination a carriage, means thereon for producinga blast ofair, and means borne by such carriage for distributing proportionateparts of the blast of air to a plurality of machines simultaneouslyoperated upon by the blower, the part of the blast delivered to eachmachine being subdivided and distributed proportionately to differentand separated localities of each machine with avoidance of theintervening localities.

2. A portable blower for cleaning spinning frames and other machines,having in combination a carriage, means thereon for producing a blast ofair, means borne by such carriage for distributing proportionate partsof the blast of air in opposite directions to operate simultaneously onmachines located in opposed relation as the blower is moved alongbetween such machines, and means proportionately dividing the part ofthe blast delivered to each machine to direct it to the localitiesespecially desired to be acted on by the blast and for adjusting thelatters strength to the needs and tolerances of the differentlocalities.

3. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination acarriage, means thereon for producing a blast of air, means fordirecting a portion of such blast to the locality of the ring-rail ofthe spinning frame, means for directing another portion of such blastsimultaneously to the locality of the creel in connection with thespinning frame, and means controlling the force of the respectiveportions of the blast.

4. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, means thereon for producing a blast of air, and means fordirecting proportionately regulated portions of such blast to respectiveparts of the spinning frame, including a conduit having vanes acting toequalize the force of the blast throughout the cross-section of thedischarge end of the conduit.

5. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, means'thereon for producing a blast of air, means fordirecting such blast to spinning frames located in opposed relation asthe blower is moved along between such machines, comprisingoppositelydirected conduits, and means for shortening and lengtheningthe conduits for bringing their discharge ends into proximity withspinning.

frames located in different spaced relations.

6. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, means thereon for producing a blast of air, and conduits fordelivering portions of the blast of air simultaneously to spinningframes located in opposed relation, and means providing for withdrawalof the conduits within the width of the carriage upon occasion.

7. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, means thereon for producing a blast of air, blast-directingmeans for delivering portions of the blast in proximity to a spinningframe transversely of the direction of movement of the carriage, andmeans operably arranged to provide for bringing such blast-directingmeans into alinement with the direction of movement.

8. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, means thereon for producing a blast of air, a conduitdirecting a portion of the blast to the locality of the ringrail of thespinning frame as the carriage is moved along the spinning frame, and asecond conduit directing another portion of such blast simultaneously tothe locality of the creel in connection with the spinning frame, andmeans for adjusting its discharging end transversely with respect to thefirst conduit.

9. A portable blower for textile machines having in combination, awheeled carriage, a housing thereon, a fan directing a blast of air intosaid housing, conduits extending laterally from such housing and adaptedto direct portions of the blast to a textile machine for the purpose ofblowing lint therefrom, and means providing for extension of the housingand its conduits transversely of the direction of movement of thecarriage when in use and extension in the direction of travel of thecarriage when not in use.

10. A portable blower for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, means thereon for producing a blast of air, a conduitdirecting a portion of the blast to the locality of the ringrail of thespinning frame as the carriage is moved along the spinning frame, asecond conduit directing another portion of such blast simultaneously tothe locality of the creel in connection with the spinning frame, and theconduits being relatively vertically adjustable.

11. A portable blower for cleaning spinning frames and other textilemachines, having in combination a carriage, a fan thereon producing ablast of air, a chamber receiving the air from the fan,laterally-extending flues discharging air from the. chamber in oppositedirections away from the carriage, an upwardly-extending airpassageleading from the chamber, and laterallyextending fiues discharging airfrom the airpassage in opposite directions.

MILTON G. SMITH.

